An Interview with

An Interview with… Mr. Rawad Sleem

Co-Founder & General Manager of NexTFairs Doha, Qatar

This month we meet up with Mr. Rawad Sleem, Co-Founder & General Manager of NexTFairs, organisers of the inaugural Qatar Travel Mart set to take place this November 2021, in the capital city of Doha. Here we find out how Qatar’s tourism industry is placed to welcome international tourism players to the event and what has changed in the city over the past few years.

What does Qatar offer tourists compared to its other regional destinations?

Qatar offers experiences that combine old and new, the traditional with the modern; from lavish malls to desert adventures, to a cultural walk through Souq Waqif or fine dining at The Pearl Qatar, tourists can truly experience the best of both worlds.

Qatar also has very diverse tourism offerings comprised of cruise tourism which brings in over a hundred thousand visitors a year, sports tourism held in international sports venues which hosts approximately 80 sporting events and world class competitions across a multitude of disciplines on an annual basis, and not to forget the upcoming FIFA 2022 World Cup which will be the first to be held in the region. MICE tourism which offers world class hotels and state of the art convention centres, strategic location as the crossroads of East and West with award winning airline, Qatar Airways, operating flights to international travel hubs. Events and destination weddings also contribute to the diverse tourism offering of Qatar due to the vast array of luxury hotels and world class convention centers, as well as the unmatched Arabian hospitality.

Why has Qatar decided now to launch its own international tourism event?

NeXTfairs aims to support Qatar’s National Vision with their 2030 strategy which aims to attract 5.6 million tourists by 2023, tourism is expected to play a greater role in Qatar’s economy going forward, with huge investment from Qatar National Tourism Council in the hospitality sector, including floating hotels, entertainment island to feature six beaches, and creating a world-class hub for culture, relaxation, adventure, history and sport.

Especially after these challenging times, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to make the industry bounce back. As a business solution leader, we aim to connect people in the industry and be a motivator for Tourism as it once again opens new horizons and provides fresh opportunities in the industry.

QTM 2021 intends to lead the way for the Tourism Industry to recover by promoting face-to-face interaction as a tool of the marketplace as well as to support industry peers and organizations post Coronavirus, create an opportunity to meet with industry partners in Qatar to generate business deals, take part of the investment plans to sustain demand in Qatar for the FIFA 2022 World Cup, provide a platform to promote and discuss change on the standards of travel and to strengthen efforts in reassuring the Traveling Public on safety post Coronavirus.

With the Football World Cup being hosted in Qatar in 2022, are there any special events at QTM to inform all travel trade visitors on the new projects (stadium/hotels etc) the country has undertaken in preparation for this global sporting event?

Yes, definitely, besides having the major stakeholders who are involved in the organization of the World Cup exhibiting and promoting themselves at the show, there will also be a 3 day conference and a gala dinner which will allow visitors to engage with these stakeholders and gather vital information pertaining to the preparations and plans. QTM will offer a high profile hosted buyers programme which is sponsored by Qatar Tourism whereby they will be hand picking 24 high profile decision makers from all over the world to attend the exhibition along with our media fam trip which will showcase the culture and heritage of Qatar to the international media and VIP guests. Various hotel entities from Katara Hospitality, Kempinski and St Regis to name a few will be promoting their offerings along with their new projects and developments while the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy will be showcasing their plans and activations in the lead up to the much anticipated 2022 World Cup.

Can you tell us more about the MICE sector in Qatar?

Qatar is a growing and competitive economic powerhouse in the GCC region and is quickly turning into a place that promotes smooth and easy business transactions in the global business community. While it quickly rises into a regional hub for conferences and exhibitions, the majority of its visitors are coming for business and most individuals come to attend a conference, a meeting, or an exhibition.

Doha, Qatar

When it comes to MICE facilities, Qatar boasts world-class venues such as Doha Exhibition and Convention Center as well as Qatar National Convention Centre; which host international events & exhibitions such as Project Qatar, Cityscape Qatar, Agriteq and Milipol Qatar as well as the Doha Jewellery and Watch exhibition and the Heya Arabian fashion exhibition to name a few and of course the much anticipated Qatar Travel Mart Exhibition which will be held at DECC. Alongside these dedicated venues, Doha's vast number of 5-star hotels all offer supreme MICE facilities.

As organisers of Qatar Travel Mart, you have had to implement new measures and protocols to enable the event to take place following the global pandemic. To reassure our readers, what can they expect when arriving in Qatar and attending the event in person.

As the official organizer of Qatar International Tourism and Travel Fair, we are committed to working closely with the Ministry of Public Health to implement health and safety measures as well as to practice the highest international standards in organizing exhibitions

to provide a safe experience for exhibitors and visitors. With the recent opening of borders to fully vaccinated tourists, Qatar is ready to welcome the world again and we as the official organisers of Qatar Travel Mart 2021, have prepared a comprehensive risk assessment plan and have addressed current conditions to achieve the best levels of security and safety. With regard to the procedures for the QTM 2021, a team of specialists will apply daily sterilizations to ensure intensive sterilization of areas where visitors meet and communicate, particularly reception lounges and other common places, while maintaining a safe distance between individuals of at least two meters, checking the temperature of all staff, visitors and exhibitors daily and immediately isolating people in a designated area in cooperation with the Qatar Red Crescent and Doha Exhibition and Conference Centre in case any symptoms may appear and communicate with the competent authorities. Only fully vaccinated individuals will be allowed access to the exhibition and no persons under the age of 18 will be allowed access. We will also provide visitors and exhibitors with a comprehensive guide to public safety procedures, as well as social spacing posters using signs and ground signals, reminding people to utilize masks at all times.

In the event that the QTM is not able to run due to further Covid-19 outbreaks, what measures are in place to keep the event live?

Due to the swift rollout of vaccines and the amazing effort by the Qatari Government to ensure that 80% of the population is fully vacinated by September, we are highly confident that the in-person event will roll out as planned and scheduled. We have however incorprated a virtual element to the exhibition which will be running in parallel to the exhibition, as a value add to the in person event and will allow our exhibitors and audience to have a further reach and pro-longed experience of all facets of the exhibition. This virtual platform is owned by us as NextFairs and is a highly engaging and user friendly platform whereby visitors and exhibtors will be able to network and engage while also having the opportunity to partake in the various conference sessions, seminars and other ancillary events that will be taking part in parallel with the exhibition.

Lastly, in your own opinion, for visitors arriving in Qatar for the first time, what 3 uniquely Qatari things must they experience.

It's easy to be mesmerized by Qatar's authentic vibe and cultural attractions. Therefore when visiting Qatar, we suggest that you take a trip to the spice souq in Souq Waqif and be taken back to Doha's glorious trading past. If you feel more adventurous, you can head out to the Inland Sea and camp overnight, one of Qatar's natural wonders, and get amazed at its majestic view. And lastly, if you are a culture enthusiast, explore Qatar's heritage sites such as Al Zubarah, Barzan Towers, Al Koot Fort, and Al Jassasiya Rock Carvings.

www.qtmqatar.com